Two boys are in state custody and their parents arrested after they were found living in a utility shed in Lamar County, authorities said.
The shed, which was in the backyard of property owned by someone else, had no running water or electricity, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Leslie Holmes said.
The boys, ages 8 and 9, were placed in the care of Division of Family and Children’s Services on Tuesday, Holmes said. Lamar County is about 60 miles south of Atlanta.
The parents, Christopher Hutchins, 41, of Tyrone, and Amanda Byrne, 36, of Zebulon, were arrested on outstanding warrants from other counties, Holmes said. They are under investigation in Lamar County over the utility shed incident.
Hutchins is the father of the 8-year-old, and Byrne is the mother of the 9-year-old.
A neighbor brought the matter to authorities’ attention recently.
The family is believed to have lived in Lamar County for about two months, Holmes said. It is not clear where they lived previously.
The homeowner allowed the family to stay in the shed in return for doing odd jobs, Holmes said. It is not known if the children were enrolled in school.
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